Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-09-27
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND.
oms of tho Charms OF the Most Beautl-
full SpOt I'm the PRclfc.

| ful spot In the racine.
Less than thirty miles distant from
the western seaboard of these practical,
matter-of-fact United s ates of Ameri-
ca lies an island which, in the pictur-
esque beauty of its scenery and the
nationality and language of its in
habitants. might almost lead one to
believe that in some mysterious man
ner it had been uprooted from the
bosom of the classic Mediterranean
and transplanted to the waters of the
Pacific. Like the storied isles OF Capri
and Ischia, its mountains, rising here
and there abruptly from the sea,
mirror their rocky walls, their
frowning battlements, their stu
pendous cliffs in water as deeply blue,
as wonderfully limpid as that which
elicits exclamations of enthusiastic de-
| light from the tourist visitors to the
Blue grotto. These mountains blush
as warmly to the morning and evening
kisses of the sun as those which look
down upon the Bay OF Naples; the sky
above them is as rich in coloring as
the famous sky of Italy, and the
dwellers in this beautiful, almost un.
known spot are natives of that sunny
land.
An Italian fishing boat once bore me
10 the island. All day we hoated al
most idly upon the bosom of tranquil
sea. The breeze that in the early morn
ing had gently distended the light can
vas of the quaint lateen sail died away,
having waited us scarcely two leagues
from the mainland. and there we lay
basking in hot sunshine-though it
was in December-gazing with placid
enjoyment upon sea and sky and dis
tant mountains. and noting the ever
changing wondrous tints that fitted
over each and all of these. Olly the
lazy blowing of sleepy whale, the
splashing downward-plunge of bask-
ing shark. afIrighted by our vicinity,
the tapping of the sail, broke now and
then the profound stiffness. Then,
long before this had become in the
slightest degree irksome, faint blue
line far. far away drew itself across
the CLASSY whiteness of the ocean. and
at its first breath the gentle breeze
called forth rippling answer from
the bows of our little vessel. and away
we sped toward the distant island.
Higher grow the mountains as we
approach thcm Wonderfully beautiful
they are in the evening light
And now there is no longer silence.
The roar of the surges breaking
against the rocks, the bowling and
barking of hundreds of sea-lions, the
screaming of thousands of sea birds
whose nests honeycomb the face of the
mighty cliffs, strike upon the ear in a
most imposing medley of sounds. Now
we can see the line OF white foam
marking the breakers. now note whore
centuries of strife between sea and
rock have worn deep caverns in the
latter, into which The pillows rush
with sudden rear and hollow BOOM
ing, to emerge again in clouds of
creamy foam and glistening spray.
One cavern explored, penetrating
at least forty yards into the base of
the cliff. The entrance was some-
what similar to that of the Blue grot-
to, the interior much grander, though
perhaps less beautiful. The mighty
vault overhead was supported by a
number of pillars so cunningly
wrought by nature as to appear to
have been fashioned by the hand
of man. Here, where the suns
direct rays were excluded and
the eyes consequently undaz-
zled by their reflection from the water
every rock and she'll, every bit of weed
and moss upon the bottom, though
many fathoms deep. was most distinct
ly visible. Huge crawiish (the lob
sters of tho Pacific) crawled slowly
about through forests Of waving sea-
weed and over miniature. submarine
mountains in search of their prey.
Fishes innumcrable and literally of all
colors of the rainbow darted hither
and thther among the rocks. 1t was
like a gigantic aquarium without the
multitude of sightseers and without
admission fees.
Casting the net one day under the
shadow of huge overhanging cliff,
its meshes were plainly visible, sus-
pended just above the bottom, and the
whole process of the capture of the
fish was distinctly observed. A
large school of smelts camo flashing
through the depths. flying from some
fierce enemy. doubtless. In a moment
they were shivering in the treacherous
meshcs of the net.
Very interesting to observe are the
seals and sea-lions rearing their hui
mnn-like heads above the surface to
gaze with their soft eyes upon the in
truder. Most knowing are these Curl
GUS creatures. Often have seen them
watch intently the casting of the net,
and then dive down and enjoy the
feast of captured fish struggling in its
folds. Sometimes, however, they pay
dearly for their gluttony by becoming
themselves entangled.
The island of Santa Cruz is the
property of two mon-an Italian and a
Frenchman. Both are residents of San
Francisco The only use they make of
this piece of property is to maintain a
large number of sheep upon it There
are three ranches-small collections of
houses occupied by shepherds. These
shepherds are all Italians, speaking not
one word Of English, notwithstanding
the fact that for years and years they
have lived under the shadow of tho
stars and stripes. Many of them spend
years in their island home without ever
crossing to the mainland, though not
thirty miles distant. - Cor. NJ X Post
THE LATE DANIEL PRATT.